May 27, 2017

A Few of My Top English Paper Piecing Tips

I'm no expert on English Paper Piecing but from one newbie to another, I have a few top tips to share to make things easier. I have made enough grandmother's flower garden blooms now to know what I like to use and how to stitch to get the prettiest results. The first attempts aren't great but I certainly have improved by leaps and bounds since those early days.

Try a few different threads to see what works best for you. I like to use 100% cotton thread and Aurifil is my one and only choice. I switch between the 50 weight and the new 80 wt depending on which colour I need and have. There are others who recommend polyester thread for its strength but I prefer the natural cotton to match my fabric. Regardless of your preference, experiment with a few varieties to test how they perform with hand-stitching which is quite different than machine sewing.

Match the colour of thread to your fabric. I tried using a neutral thread at first and it totally showed. Pairing the same shade of thread with the main colour of your patchwork will make a big difference in how your stitches look. Whipstitches do show but they should be tiny tick marks and not obvious, contrasting stitches.

Don't make your stitches too tiny and close. Aim for stitches about an 1/8th of an inch apart. Your work will move along at a good pace, have a pleasing appearance, and will be strong and secure. I started with stitches far too small and not only did it take forever to finish a flower, my hands started to ache. The look of my seams was so much prettier when I started spacing my stitches further apart. Don't 'bite' more than a few threads regardless of spacing or the stitches will show too much.

Pack a special English Paper Piecing kit so you can grab and go and have your hand-sewing wherever you are. I keep mine in a plastic pencil box from Staples. It doubles as a work surface when opened up flat and keeps everything tidy and protected. I keep my hexies sorted by colour in a stackable container but slip them into baggies for travel. I made my little small, portable design board and it's been amazing.

Sample different types of needles to find which you like best. I've tried many different varieties and sizes and found the perfect ones for me. I happen to like appliqué sharps in size 9 or 10. They are fine and glide through the hexie edges and are not too long. I adore the Roxanne sharps I bought in Florida.

If you are like me, over 40(!) and your eyes are not quite as sharp as they once were, I really find the LED magnifier to be a big help. It allows me to get precise placement of my stitches and helps when I need to remove a tangle or knot.

Have fun and don't be afraid to experiment and practice. Seriously, if I can enjoy hand sewing I think anybody could grow to appreciate it since I would be the last person I'd ever expect to be doing this...and liking it!

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I think the portability of EPP projects is their biggest draw. I never expected to enjoy hand piecing, but the fact that you can take the project with you and work on it just about anywhere is fantastic.